The King On A Cross - John 19:17-30

Crucifixion. It is one of the most cruel forms of execution. The victim, after being nailed to a crosspiece is raised on a pulley to an upright post permanently fixed. The victim would experience excruciating pain as the gravity pulls down the weight of his body while the crosspiece is being pulled up. Most of the crucified lose their consciousness through this process alone.

The crucified victim is left to die. It could take days; a long, slow agonizing descent

into the world of the dead.¹ The victim would finally die of suffocation, as he could no longer raise his chest to breathe out of exhaustion. Josephus, a Jewish historian, describes crucifixion as ‘the most wretched of deaths.’²

Cicero, a Roman statesman who lived in the 1^st century B.C., called it “a most cruel and terrible penalty, incapable of description by any word, for there is none to describe it.”³

So terrible was crucifixion that no Roman was permitted to undergo it, however heinous his crime.

But amid the horror of crucifixion we must not lose sight of the proper perspective.

The crucifixion is not defeat. It is victory.

Jesus consistently reminded his disciples that his death will be a ‘lifting up’ on the cross. As one author said, “His crucifixion is his coronation; his cross, his throne.”

If you will please take note that it was the Palm Sunday pilgrims who had set the scene for the events of the following week. They shouted “Blessed is the king of Israel” (John 12:13). And so, the words of Pilate’s verdict interpret the crucifixion the same way John the Gospel writer understands it. ‘Here is your king”, Pilate told the Jews.

What Pilate had written on the notice placed over Jesus’ head on the cross was, therefore, nothing but the simple truth: “Jesus… the King” There are at least three aspects of his kingship that are reflected in our Gospel reading for today.

One aspect of Jesus’ kingship is that..

1. HE IS A HIDDEN KING

This is suggested by ch.19:18, 19. The verses read:

Here (meaning Golgotha) they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Now placed alongside this scenario is v.19 which reads,

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

What prompted Pilate to write such an inscription? Earlier, as you already know, during the trial of Jesus, Pilate asked him straightforwardly, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

To which Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. My kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king.”

But there he was, hanging on the cross, not with a bejeweled crown of gold but with a crown of thorns on his head.

The claims for his kingship are, on the surface for most of the people then, the most blatant lie. No one was less kingly, or possessed with the least evidence to support his claim, than Jesus at that moment on the cross. A king crucified on a cross is a contradiction in terms.

The Roman soldiers as they bow in mock homage stressed the presumptuousness of the claim. “Hail king of the Jews” and they spit upon him and struck his head with a staff again and again. This we find recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, ch. 27.

From the rational standpoint, Jesus’ story is a tragic failure. There seems to be no God in the cross.

But my friends, it is only through the Spirit that the victory of the cross can be recognized. As Martin Luther puts it, “In Christ crucified is the true knowledge of God…as long as a man does not know Christ he does not know the true God, the God hidden in sufferings.”

The hiddenness of God needs to be recognized. There are times when we are called to believe, not “because of” but “inspite of”. He sometimes leads us to a point of brokenness before he can make us whole again. He allows us to accept and feel our pains before healing can start. We sometimes need to face up to and accept our own deficiencies before He can fill us up to overflowing.

There are times when God needs to bring us to a point of utter helplessness and weakness to make us stronger in the faith. Such is God’s way. We do not see the sun at night but it does not mean that the sun no longer shines. In the same way, there are moments when life’s circumstances seem to suggest that God has abandoned us or are no longer in control. It does not mean he has or he is.

Jesus’ kingship is sometimes concealed from our eyes. But that does not mean he is no longer King.

Another aspect of Jesus’ kingship found in our scripture passage is that …

1. HE IS A UNIVERSAL KING

This is suggested by chapter verses 20 and 21:

Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.

The languages in which Jesus’ kingship was proclaimed embrace three great imensions of human experience which help us unpack the full implication of his title.

It was written in Greek, the language associated historically with the development of culture and arts.

Homer, the Iliad and the Odysey, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Parthenon in Athens are just some of the names and things associated with Greek culture at its highest.

The fact that the inscription “Jesus the King” was written in Greek suggests to us that His reign extends to arena of culture and arts. The world of culture is a world that Christ claims. Human creativity is the gift of him who made all things.

As Christians, we have a mandate to bring back the rule of Christ over art in any form.

This includes music – not just classical, but also pop, jazz, hip hop, R&B and even rock music. After all, what makes a song Christian is not the tune or tempo but its lyrics. The words make a music “Christian”.

While there is a place for everything, anything offered and dedicated to God becomes sacred.

All art forms must be utilized for the purpose and glory of the King Jesus. The forces of darkness should not have a monopoly of any type of music or art.

Let us utilize all the available art forms for the cause of our King Jesus.

The inscription “Jesus...the King” was also written in Latin, the language of the law and the government during the time of the Roman Empire.

Today, especially here in the Philippines, the world of politics and power is looked upon as messy, evil and corrupt. But Christ claims that world, too, as his own, and he is able to reign through lives surrendered to his lordship, to bring the salt and light of his kingdom to the arenas of public life.

We need court judges and justices who have robes that have no pockets and who will decide according to truth and justice. We need Police officials who will not connive with criminals nor allow themselves to be in the payroll of organized crime syndicates. We need lawmakers and politicians whose primary motive is to serve the interests of the poor majority and not to enrich themselves and the few who have given them favors in the past.

The inscription “Jesus…the King” was also written in Aramaic, a bastardized Hebrew, used by the common Jews. Linguahe ng masa.

This suggests to us that even in the mundane concerns of daily life, such as the way we relate with our neighbors, workers, house helpers, pedestrians and street people, Jesus should reign as King.

Jesus’ kingship is universal in scope.

Thirdly,

1. HE IS A PERSONAL KING

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We find in chapter 19:25-27 a very intimate scene.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleofas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear mother, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The great problem with many great human rulers through the centuries, who have dreamt great dreams and have expanded their empires around the world, is that in the process they lose sight of the individual.

Our little personal concerns, struggles and pains pale in insignificance in comparison

to the great all-inclusive plan. The individual apparently becomes a non-essential.

But this king who reigns from the cross on Golgotha is different. “He is a king”, as one Bible commentator puts it, “whose embrace is as wide as the world. He is the one to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given and yet who can simultaneously embrace each of us in a personal, loving way.

As Jesus hangs there on the cross with the burden of the world’s redemption on his shoulders, he finds time to express his loving concern for his mother and his special friend.

A familiar gospel chorus entitled “As the Deer” has the following lines in it:

You’re my friend and you are my brother

Even though you are a king.

I love you more than any other

So much more than anything.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the King who gave his life on the cross for you! The question is “Is he YOUR king?”

PRAYER:

Lord, who rules with love, be enthroned in our life, we pray. Amen.

CLOSING PRAYER.

O lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

and removes the dross in the dark corners of our soul,

accept our service we offer today in your name.

We praise you, for you are familiar with pain, helplessness, brokenness, and suffering.

In our brokenness, let us experience wholeness.

In our frailty and weakness, let us know your strength.

In our helplessness, allow us to draw from your unlimited power.

Fill our emptiness with your fullness.

Reign over us, we pray. Amen.